Record that voters name

We get a lot of silent voters in polls, and sometime people horsing around, and I've wondered if it were possible, if it would be good to generate a record of the user-names that vote in ProgArchives polls (with their vote indicated ideally, I think). 

Edited by Logan - October 11 2012 at 16:37

Epignosis wrote: It would keep me from having to post what I voted if I had nothing else to add to the discussion, so please.

I think it would be interesting. Some forums have the ability to turn on or off the ability to see who voted for what in a poll.

A Person wrote: I think it would be interesting. Some forums have the ability to turn on or off the ability to see who voted for what in a poll.

Edited by Logan - October 11 2012 at 18:20

It sounds like it could result in harassing of people who voted the wrong way, so I vote an emphatic yes.

Absolutely not.

I'd say no. Voting should be anonymous by default.

I secretly voted in this poll

Perhaps the users album ratings should be anonymous by default then too.

A goodly portion of people do mention what they vote for and why, and many give some reasons to illustrate why they vote a certain way.  I'm one of those who has been more likely to mention my vote and forget to actually vote.

I understand people's qualms about more of a Big Broth state/ greater surveillance, but I don't see problems with implementing the ability to be able to choose to see who voted and what people voted for.  We brought in regulations that only people with 40, or whatever it is, posts could vote, and maybe had we had the system in place to be able to see who voted (and the ability to see if those users had multiple accounts) then we wouldn't have to do that.  If it were brought in, it would be announced that the names of voters and their votes would be recorded, and for those that it bothers, they could avoid voting.

I know "default" was said, which was a well-chosen word, so this doesn't follow well, but I still will note that very rarely does anyone choose to enable the option to "Make Poll only (no replies allowed)" when setting up polls.  Of course one wants to give options.  What I would like, at least (not something I would expect or think it would be feasible under our software, but would like), is to be able to make polls which require a reply if one is to vote.  I feel like a bit of a  hypocrite saying that, however, as I have "voted" (so to speak) for a numerical rating for many albums in the database without writing a post (a review) to go along with that rating.

I'm not sure why people, generally, at PA would want to "hide" what the voted for.  I've never really fully understood the silent voter mentality outside of certain political actions.  I think there's more chance for abuse when people are not required to divulge what the voted for in Prog Polls matters such as "How would you rate Dream Theater's latest album", I think it more likely that people will vote without having even heard it, which can be a problem with ratings without reviews as well.  No, it's not that big a deal, but I would like to encourage more people to come out and discuss their opinions, and this might help somewhat.  And if people know that their votes are being recorded, then there would be less chance for abuse of one's voting privileges.

I often see when there is a negative option on a poll that silent people come in to vote for the negative option.  Is it that they're nervous to express their opinion?  They shouldn't be.  I think it's often people who just want to irritate and deflate in an anonymous way and or are up to hi-jinx.  For instance, they see a RIO band name, and they profess a general hate of RIO so automatically vote in a negative way towards it without knowing the material.  I don't trust the kind of person who needs to feel anonymous in such matters.  As  a passionate music lover, I don't feel the need here to hide my disdain or adoration under a bushel, and expressing my disdain has never got me flamed that I can think of ( iry not to be inflammatory in the way I express myself generally in such matters).

Side:note:  I am generally more interested in why people voted a certain way than what they voted for, and recording votes in and of themselves will not tell you why.  But if you're familiar with that person's tastes and views, then just knowing what they voted for is meaningful, and it also lends itself to more interesting and meaningful statistical analysis, I think.

Perhaps with some more sensitive and politically infused  topics' polls (say to do with site policy and management), we would keep anonymous voting.  And perhaps when it comes to political polls and other more sensitive ones.

I also think that it might lessen knee-jerk reactions in polls if it is being recorded (more chance that someone will think through their vote before voting, and then more chance that that person will actually involve him or herself in discussion which can create more vibrant topics).